(House for mission and retreats staff in New South Wales, Australia)
Arncliffe is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was the first separate home for the missions and retreats staff in NSW. Before 1952, this staff resided with the parish personnel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Sefton, NSW.
In April 1952, Canonical Visitor Father Michael O’Ryan, Assistant General, requested from the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney the authorization to open a mission residence at Arncliffe. This was granted upon the assurance that no public oratory would be sought.
The house was located at 184 Forest Road, Arncliffe. The first Oblates moved in on June 10, 1952. The community counted 5 Oblates in all: 4 Fathers and 1 Brother. It was an Oblate house, under the title of Stella Maris.
The house proved to be unsuited for its purpose and a substitute was searched for. On September 7, 1953, the community moved to a larger and more suitable residence in Penshurst*, NSW.
Denis McCarthy, o.m.i.
